Gangway Collapses on Holland America Ship as Mooring Lines Snap
Yet another cruise ship has been brutalized by high winds, causing mooring lines to snap and a dangerous gangway collapse.
The incident occurred aboard Holland America Line’s Westerdam on Friday, May 30, 2025, while the ship was visiting Ketchikan as part of a 7-night Alaska Explorer itinerary.
Guests onboard the ship shared their experiences and photos of the startling event, which include the gangway perilously hanging from the side of the vessel after it had disconnected from the pier.
So severe was the ship’s movement that the gangway looks to be a completely vertical ladder rather than a ramp from ship to shore!
At the time the gangway collapsed, wind gusts of more than 30 miles per hour were officially recorded. Ketchikan Daily News reports note that momentary gusts may have been as 60 knots (70 miles per hour).
Several of the ship’s mooring lines – the ropes that keep a cruise ship snug against the pier – snapped, which permitted the ship to move away from the dock. As the space widened, the gangway collapsed.
Fortunately, no one was on the gangway at the time and no injuries were reported related to the incident. Tugboats were used to hold the 82,305-gross ton ship in place as cranes lifted the gangway.
All equipment would have been inspected and replaced as necessary before guests would be permitted to use it again. All guests were able to reboard the vessel later in the day, and Westerdam departed Ketchikan with no anticipated delays to her itinerary.
The ship had departed Seattle, Washington on May 25 and had already visited Juneau and Sitka, as well as enjoyed scenic cruising through the Tracy Arm Fjord.
Ketchikan was her final port of call in the Last Frontier before a brief visit to Victoria, British Columbia on May 31 and returning to Seattle on Sunday, June 1.
More Gangway Mishaps Recently
In recent days, there have been a rash of gangway and mooring line incidents in different ports of call.
On Saturday, May 31, MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape broke free while docked at MSC Ocean Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas. A sudden squall snapped the lines and, as with Westerdam, the gangway fell into the water.
The day before – Friday, May 30 – Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic had a similar incident in Catania, Italy. As that ship’s gangway collapsed, a female guest fell into the water and her husband jumped in after her as a rescue effort. Both guests received minor injuries.
Strong winds and heavy gusts were also factors in that incident.
Crossing a cruise ship’s gangway when visiting a port of call – whether heading out to explore or returning to the ship after an exciting day – may seem simple, but guests should always be alert to their surroundings and watch their footing carefully.
Using handrails is also essential to keep one’s balance on sometimes moving or slippery surfaces.
Read Also: Can a Rogue Wave Sink a Cruise Ship?
Crew members are always on hand at the gangway monitoring conditions and will temporarily stop guests from using the gangway if it seems to be moving too much or if there are any safety risks.
The mooring lines that keep ships in place are sturdy and strong, but sudden wind gusts can strain the lines too much and the ropes occasionally give way. While multiple ropes are in place for every vessel, as one rope snaps, the extra strain may be too much on remaining lines.
When cruise ships begin to drift, emergency measures are put in place to bring the massive vessels back under control as quickly and safely as possible while new lines are firmly attached.
In some cases, it may be necessary for ships to remain away from the dock until weather conditions are calmer, such as happened with Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Magic in Jamaica in February 2024.
While the mooring lines held in that incident, the ship impacted the pier and had to move away for several hours until the weather settled.
Gangway Collapses on Holland America Ship as Mooring Lines Snap